[He... Hadn't really planned on this outcome. Probably should have anticipated it though; even if Mitsuru has been sleeping a lot more soundly as of late, of course she can still wake up and be aware of her surroundings. She has to, in their line of extracurriculars.
Not that it makes this situation any easier for him.]
"Y-you're... You're telling me you heard all of that?"
[At least his voice doesn't squeak at the end. It's the one part of him that manages to stay calm, even as his face starts to go red. His arms are also shaking, and that same tremor is working its way up to his shoulders.
Maybe that risk of Execution is a lot closer than he thought it was.
Too late to take his words back, of course. Or ask her to forget any of it.]
"I... Guess I could've worded that better. But I just figured that fair is fair; asking you to be my girl, because I'm pretty sure I'd be yours by default-
Agh- That doesn't sound any better!
But I... I did want to tell you sooner or later that it's a lot more than just liking you... A lot, lot more. Just wasn't expecting it to be this much sooner."
[ Well, mostly. The beginning was a little fuzzy with her still half asleep but she had certainly heard more than enough, the parts that really matter, she's certain of that.
He's hers? He more than likes her? It's rapidly becoming apparent that she needs to say something, something that could very well end in her complete and utter humiliation. But at the same time, she knows she'll never find any kind of inner peace unless she does so.
She takes an audible breath, forcing herself to meet his eyes as she gazes up at him. ]
Akihiko, I don't wish to presume anything but... [ God this is so hard to say... ]
Are you perhaps... in love with me?
...The same way I think that I may be in love with you.
[ Oh god, did she actually say that? Aloud? For the first time in her life, Mitsuru Kirijo feels like sinking downwards and hiding under their shared covers.
What she says next sounds like she might be contemplating doing just that, tugging the covers further up towards her chin as she murmurs... ]
[And of course THAT'S when it catches up to him on what Mitsuru is saying. That she might be in love with him. He sucks in his breath, feeling like she just landed a strike right between his lungs. Weird how it both hurts and doesn't all at the same time.]
"Y-you... Might love me too-?"
[Even as his heart gives a weird lurch, Akihiko has to remind himself that he hasn't been frozen in ice yet. So this isn't the worst direction this conversation could have gone in. Though his pulse begs to differ with how much it pounds through him, and leaves him almost shivering.
At least Mitsuru hasn't commented on that yet. He doesn't want to give off the impression that he's scared of her-
...Or at least, he's not completely scared of her. Or what she's talking about.
Though if he's a little bit shaky, it's clear that he's not the only one. Especially with how Mitsuru is sinking into the covers, and almost drifting away from him. And he can't quite sit by and watch that happen.]
"W-wait."
[He stretches a hand out and carefully lays his fingers across her shoulder.]
"..."
[Granted. Now that he has the physical touch down, he needs to figure out what to do or say next.]
"...Not arguing that it's embarrassing. If I knew you were listening, I'd try to speak better. I'd just been working on figuring it all out, and saying it out loud was... I was hoping I'd get some more practice in, before talking to you.
But I... I guess you figured out what I've been trying to say. It's just been hard to figure it out, or get it into words. But I... I... Think I feel the exact same-"
[And that's when his other hand takes her opposite shoulder. And he's moving half on reflex now with trying to pull he close and hoping this is the right call and she's not going to shy away now.]
[ She's immediately attuned to the fact that he says "too", the way he says it implying that this feeling isn't exactly one-sided. It feels as though her heart might burst or otherwise beat right out of her chest. ]
Yes. I feel... a strange sort of pain when we sleep apart or whenever I feel as though you may be in some sort of distress. It's difficult to describe.
[ She swallows, still nervous - not a feeling that she is used to and honestly it's unsettling. Part of her does still want to bury herself in the blankets and refuse to re-emerge or else flee their apartment altogether, but then Akihiko pulls her close and well... She still feels those impulses but him against her, warm and solid... Turns out that could do wonders to calm her.
She won't stop herself burying her face into his chest though, refusing all eye contact for a moment. A compromise, to stop her retreating. ]
I think I need to say it again, properly this time.
"Let me guess... If I'm sad you're sad too? Because that's a lot like what I've been going through. Gotta admit, I also sleep better when I'm near you."
[That odd jolt when she buries her face in his chest is still something he's getting used to. It's an echo of before, when they were both reeling from the effects of contaminated water... But at least this time he doesn't feel like he's about to lose his mind.
Just that he doesn't want to do anything, other than hold onto her. And maybe let his grip go a little tighter when he hears those three words. He has to remind himself not to crush Mitsuru, and watch his strength.
He isn't able to find a response right away; at first the best he can do is sway back and forth with Mitsuru, pushing his lips against the top of her head and nuzzling at it.]
"...Turns out you're braver than me, huh? You managed to say it to me, before I could figure out how to tell you."
[Not that he's content to sit back and not try to keep up with her.]
"L-love you."
[He murmurs that into her hair, before forcing himself to try again.]
"Right back at you- I mean to say, I love you too. Took me a while to finally admit it while you're awake, but..."
[But maybe he can settle with kissing the top of her head again.]
Something like that, yes. It's as though I have some sort of pain in my chest...
[ It's more than a relief to hear him say those words back to her, it's everything she needs and wants to hear in this moment. Perhaps a part of her was afraid that he wouldn't reciprocate, that she's standing out here on this precarious ledge alone. But no, he's by her side in this too, as he always is.
No chance of crushing her here and his arms tighten around her, Mitsuru sighs, finally letting herself relax totally into his embrace. She closes her eyes as he kisses the top of her head. ]
I'm not sure what we're supposed to do now, but this seems like a good start.
[ Just being near him like this. She lets out a soft chuckle as she recalls something from moments ago. ]
This... "your girl" business. Perhaps I'd be more inclined to say yes if you phrased it slightly differently?
[Akihiko gives a low agreeing murmur; maybe they're a little out of their depth about this; it's certainly nothing he's ever trained or studied for. But for all of that, they don't seem to be doing too badly right now. Especially if the contentment curling through his chest and relaxing his muscles is anything to go by. He could stay like this for a while-
...But he's about ready to groan when Mitsuru brings up 'your girl' again.]
"...Phrasing it as 'my girl' was a mistake. I'm starting to realize that."
[As he talks, he lets his head drop a little closer so he's closer to her ear. And that enticing spot on her neck.]
"Would you prefer 'girlfriend' then? Or is 'partner' more of your thing?"
[And as he's saying all that, he lets his lips just graze at her skin. Two can play at that teasing game, although he's a lot more physical about it.]
[ Maybe one she won’t ever let him live down. Maybe. ]
I believe “girlfriend” would be the expected term for someone in our peer group, would it not?
[ Trust her to phrase all of that as though she’s some kind of Victorian from outer space.
His lips on her skin isn’t something she’s expecting though, an audible gasp escaping her. She’s slightly alarmed to discover that the effect upon her is almost as immediate as when they had both been in the beginning stages of their respective transformations… Mitsuru feels herself growing warm, a strange fluttering feeling slowly forming in her lower belly. ]
… I really don’t believe you’re fighting fair now, Akihiko…
[ Words aside, as she fights to keep any kind of arousal out of her voice, she feels herself leaning into it. ]
"You're right... Probably not fighting fair. We could call a truce if you want; you stop teasing me about that 'your girl' stuff, and I'll stop this."
[Weird though, how a part of him hopes she won't call a stop just yet. Especially with the way she's leaning into him, and making those gasping noises. He can't help but be a little bit proud he can pull a reaction like that out of Mitsuru.
Or maybe it's also that he feels grateful, that she's still willing to drop her guard enough to react like this.]
"Guess I can work with 'girlfriend' and 'boyfriend.' Just never thought it would apply to either of us... Not that I mind being wrong about it."
[He tries to give her a little bit of a break, murmuring that against Mitsuru's cheek instead of her neck.]
You really think that I would call a truce so easily?
[ It's foolish really, to be stubborn about something like this but with Akihiko, well... They tended to bring out that side of one another, although Mitsuru usually kept that part of her on a much shorter leash these days. Junior high, their first of year of high school, all of that was a long time ago now after all.
But maybe she just plain likes what he's doing, isn't ready for him to stop yet. He's giving her a break regardless, but she can still feel the telltale tingle on her skin of where his lips were mere moments earlier, still feel that heat that she can't quite put a name to yet but doesn't want it to go away, as she reaches to gently grip his shoulders.
She sighs softly. ]
In that case, I suppose I could get used to having a "boyfriend"...
"You're right, I should've known that you wouldn't yield so easy."
[Oh, he's certainly teasing her at this point. There's a light shiver in his shoulders when Mitsuru places her hands over them; his body giving him a brief reminder that he enjoys the contact with her.
He considers her ear for a moment before putting his lips close to that.]
"Seems like you're getting pretty used to it; at least you're not complaining about our arrangement right now."
[Maybe he's referring to their sleeping arrangement, the sudden honesty with their feelings... Or the way he's giving her ear a brief, experimental nibble before kissing it.
It to be sure, he's trying his luck. But he's also seeing this as something of a challenge now.]
[ A challenge, yes that is entirely what this is. That's entirely the reason she feels so warm in the face and riled up at the graze of his teeth on her neck again. It's obvious that she has to take control back somehow, to seize the upper hand in this... test of wills.
It's just that has her using her grip on his shoulders to rise and encourage him to lie back on the bed as she moves to position herself on top of him. She's suddenly acutely aware that they're both still in the none too thick fabric of their sleepwear but that dwelling on that should be dismissed to focus on the challenge. She's absolutely not going to think about the fact that she can feel parts of his body that she never thought she would while they're like this.
She leans in, the lustrous tendrils of her red hair tumbling about them both as she moves to kiss first his mouth, quickly, briefly, before moving to his neck. Mitsuru kisses him there, letting him feel the graze of her teeth and tongue the same way he had been doing to her. Her voice is a little... huskier than usual, a little softer, as she murmurs in response against his neck. ]
You're correct, I'm not complaining about it. But you're free to anytime, Akihiko...
[ She follows it up with another soft yet teasing bite. She wonders briefly what it would be like to mark his skin again, whether he would like that... ]
[He's not proud of that startled but pleased sound that jumps out of his mouth, once Mitsuru kisses him on the lips. At least it doesn't seem to discourage Mitsuru, with how she stays straddling him.
And how she keeps teasing at his neck. NOW he's starting to understand what she means about not fighting fair. His breathing is going a little more heavy, and there's another odd noise escaping his lips as she teases at his neck.]
"Only thing I mind is that you're not..."
[How is he supposed to put this, exactly? That she's not as aggressive as she could be?
And he's weirdly excited by that thought? It's certainly pushing an electric feeling down his back and into his stomach, before settling deeper.]
"Th...That is. You could be a lot more forceful, if you wanted. I wouldn't complain."
[He finds himself reaching with one of his hands and gently weaving his fingers into Mitsuru's hair. Not pulling on it of course... Just appreciating it, and how the strands shift between his fingers. Certainly not something he's been able to savor much, until now.]
[ She's not...? Mitsuru isn't sure where he's going with this at first and she's almost momentarily concerned that she's doing something completely and utterly wrong. She's never done anything like this before after all...
What he's just trying to tell her that he's not liking this in the most polite way possible?
But then he finishes that sentence and a dark blush begins to spread across her face. There is something else too, a none too small thrill at the thought... ]
...I see.
[ She finds herself shuddering pleasantly as Akihiko weaves his fingers through her hair. She considers his neck where she was teasing it, finally spurred on enough to bite him there, teeth grazing him hard enough to leave a mark as she sucks gently on his bare skin. She can't rein in the strange feeling of satisfaction at her handiwork, the way she's marked him. She murmurs against his neck. ]
[He's making a lot of weird noises from that sudden contact, and that flash of pain followed by relief. Figures that this would end up being one of his turn-ons... Though Akihiko is also realizing he should probably say something about it, before she gets the wrong idea.]
"Y-yeah... A lot like that!"
[Not exactly dignified, how he wheezes and gasps that out. His hands go up to clutch at the back of Mitsuru's head and hold onto it all through the biting.]
"Guess I... Like it when you're a little rough. Feels a little like a test for me."
[...And that's partially true, but not 100% accurate. Akihiko lets his breath out slow, and lets himself collapse into the bedsheets.]
"...And I also guess that I just like feeling how strong you are. Reminds me that you're-
...Well. You know."
[SAY IT, his thoughts shout at him. No running away from this or shying away from another challenge.]
[ She finds herself enjoying the way he gives into her, the way he collapses to the sheets underneath them both. It spurs her on, her lips trailing lower until she's at the collar of whatever tshirt he had decided to wear to bed yesterday night, her mouth and teeth finding his collarbone where she leaves yet another mark on his skin,
Mitsuru might be slowly but steadily getting used to the pair of them becoming increasingly physically intimate, but it's quite another thing to hear Akihiko call her beautiful. He'd always been quick to compliment her skill in battle- "amazing as always"- but this... this hits different.
New colour rises to her cheeks as she pauses to look him in the eye. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[He... Hadn't really planned on this outcome. Probably should have anticipated it though; even if Mitsuru has been sleeping a lot more soundly as of late, of course she can still wake up and be aware of her surroundings. She has to, in their line of extracurriculars.
Not that it makes this situation any easier for him.]
"Y-you're... You're telling me you heard all of that?"
[At least his voice doesn't squeak at the end. It's the one part of him that manages to stay calm, even as his face starts to go red. His arms are also shaking, and that same tremor is working its way up to his shoulders.
Maybe that risk of Execution is a lot closer than he thought it was.
Too late to take his words back, of course. Or ask her to forget any of it.]
"I... Guess I could've worded that better. But I just figured that fair is fair; asking you to be my girl, because I'm pretty sure I'd be yours by default-
Agh- That doesn't sound any better!
But I... I did want to tell you sooner or later that it's a lot more than just liking you... A lot, lot more. Just wasn't expecting it to be this much sooner."
no subject
[ Well, mostly. The beginning was a little fuzzy with her still half asleep but she had certainly heard more than enough, the parts that really matter, she's certain of that.
He's hers? He more than likes her? It's rapidly becoming apparent that she needs to say something, something that could very well end in her complete and utter humiliation. But at the same time, she knows she'll never find any kind of inner peace unless she does so.
She takes an audible breath, forcing herself to meet his eyes as she gazes up at him. ]
Akihiko, I don't wish to presume anything but... [ God this is so hard to say... ]
Are you perhaps... in love with me?
...The same way I think that I may be in love with you.
[ Oh god, did she actually say that? Aloud? For the first time in her life, Mitsuru Kirijo feels like sinking downwards and hiding under their shared covers.
What she says next sounds like she might be contemplating doing just that, tugging the covers further up towards her chin as she murmurs... ]
...This is so embarrassing.
no subject
"Y-you... Might love me too-?"
[Even as his heart gives a weird lurch, Akihiko has to remind himself that he hasn't been frozen in ice yet. So this isn't the worst direction this conversation could have gone in. Though his pulse begs to differ with how much it pounds through him, and leaves him almost shivering.
At least Mitsuru hasn't commented on that yet. He doesn't want to give off the impression that he's scared of her-
...Or at least, he's not completely scared of her. Or what she's talking about.
Though if he's a little bit shaky, it's clear that he's not the only one. Especially with how Mitsuru is sinking into the covers, and almost drifting away from him. And he can't quite sit by and watch that happen.]
"W-wait."
[He stretches a hand out and carefully lays his fingers across her shoulder.]
"..."
[Granted. Now that he has the physical touch down, he needs to figure out what to do or say next.]
"...Not arguing that it's embarrassing. If I knew you were listening, I'd try to speak better. I'd just been working on figuring it all out, and saying it out loud was... I was hoping I'd get some more practice in, before talking to you.
But I... I guess you figured out what I've been trying to say. It's just been hard to figure it out, or get it into words. But I... I... Think I feel the exact same-"
[And that's when his other hand takes her opposite shoulder. And he's moving half on reflex now with trying to pull he close and hoping this is the right call and she's not going to shy away now.]
no subject
Yes. I feel... a strange sort of pain when we sleep apart or whenever I feel as though you may be in some sort of distress. It's difficult to describe.
[ She swallows, still nervous - not a feeling that she is used to and honestly it's unsettling. Part of her does still want to bury herself in the blankets and refuse to re-emerge or else flee their apartment altogether, but then Akihiko pulls her close and well... She still feels those impulses but him against her, warm and solid... Turns out that could do wonders to calm her.
She won't stop herself burying her face into his chest though, refusing all eye contact for a moment. A compromise, to stop her retreating. ]
I think I need to say it again, properly this time.
Akihiko, I... I love you.
no subject
[That odd jolt when she buries her face in his chest is still something he's getting used to. It's an echo of before, when they were both reeling from the effects of contaminated water... But at least this time he doesn't feel like he's about to lose his mind.
Just that he doesn't want to do anything, other than hold onto her. And maybe let his grip go a little tighter when he hears those three words. He has to remind himself not to crush Mitsuru, and watch his strength.
He isn't able to find a response right away; at first the best he can do is sway back and forth with Mitsuru, pushing his lips against the top of her head and nuzzling at it.]
"...Turns out you're braver than me, huh? You managed to say it to me, before I could figure out how to tell you."
[Not that he's content to sit back and not try to keep up with her.]
"L-love you."
[He murmurs that into her hair, before forcing himself to try again.]
"Right back at you- I mean to say, I love you too. Took me a while to finally admit it while you're awake, but..."
[But maybe he can settle with kissing the top of her head again.]
no subject
[ It's more than a relief to hear him say those words back to her, it's everything she needs and wants to hear in this moment. Perhaps a part of her was afraid that he wouldn't reciprocate, that she's standing out here on this precarious ledge alone. But no, he's by her side in this too, as he always is.
No chance of crushing her here and his arms tighten around her, Mitsuru sighs, finally letting herself relax totally into his embrace. She closes her eyes as he kisses the top of her head. ]
I'm not sure what we're supposed to do now, but this seems like a good start.
[ Just being near him like this. She lets out a soft chuckle as she recalls something from moments ago. ]
This... "your girl" business. Perhaps I'd be more inclined to say yes if you phrased it slightly differently?
[ She's teasing him. ]
no subject
...But he's about ready to groan when Mitsuru brings up 'your girl' again.]
"...Phrasing it as 'my girl' was a mistake. I'm starting to realize that."
[As he talks, he lets his head drop a little closer so he's closer to her ear. And that enticing spot on her neck.]
"Would you prefer 'girlfriend' then? Or is 'partner' more of your thing?"
[And as he's saying all that, he lets his lips just graze at her skin. Two can play at that teasing game, although he's a lot more physical about it.]
no subject
[ Maybe one she won’t ever let him live down. Maybe. ]
I believe “girlfriend” would be the expected term for someone in our peer group, would it not?
[ Trust her to phrase all of that as though she’s some kind of Victorian from outer space.
His lips on her skin isn’t something she’s expecting though, an audible gasp escaping her. She’s slightly alarmed to discover that the effect upon her is almost as immediate as when they had both been in the beginning stages of their respective transformations… Mitsuru feels herself growing warm, a strange fluttering feeling slowly forming in her lower belly. ]
… I really don’t believe you’re fighting fair now, Akihiko…
[ Words aside, as she fights to keep any kind of arousal out of her voice, she feels herself leaning into it. ]
no subject
[Weird though, how a part of him hopes she won't call a stop just yet. Especially with the way she's leaning into him, and making those gasping noises. He can't help but be a little bit proud he can pull a reaction like that out of Mitsuru.
Or maybe it's also that he feels grateful, that she's still willing to drop her guard enough to react like this.]
"Guess I can work with 'girlfriend' and 'boyfriend.' Just never thought it would apply to either of us... Not that I mind being wrong about it."
[He tries to give her a little bit of a break, murmuring that against Mitsuru's cheek instead of her neck.]
no subject
[ It's foolish really, to be stubborn about something like this but with Akihiko, well... They tended to bring out that side of one another, although Mitsuru usually kept that part of her on a much shorter leash these days. Junior high, their first of year of high school, all of that was a long time ago now after all.
But maybe she just plain likes what he's doing, isn't ready for him to stop yet. He's giving her a break regardless, but she can still feel the telltale tingle on her skin of where his lips were mere moments earlier, still feel that heat that she can't quite put a name to yet but doesn't want it to go away, as she reaches to gently grip his shoulders.
She sighs softly. ]
In that case, I suppose I could get used to having a "boyfriend"...
no subject
[Oh, he's certainly teasing her at this point. There's a light shiver in his shoulders when Mitsuru places her hands over them; his body giving him a brief reminder that he enjoys the contact with her.
He considers her ear for a moment before putting his lips close to that.]
"Seems like you're getting pretty used to it; at least you're not complaining about our arrangement right now."
[Maybe he's referring to their sleeping arrangement, the sudden honesty with their feelings... Or the way he's giving her ear a brief, experimental nibble before kissing it.
It to be sure, he's trying his luck. But he's also seeing this as something of a challenge now.]
no subject
[ A challenge, yes that is entirely what this is. That's entirely the reason she feels so warm in the face and riled up at the graze of his teeth on her neck again. It's obvious that she has to take control back somehow, to seize the upper hand in this... test of wills.
It's just that has her using her grip on his shoulders to rise and encourage him to lie back on the bed as she moves to position herself on top of him. She's suddenly acutely aware that they're both still in the none too thick fabric of their sleepwear but that dwelling on that should be dismissed to focus on the challenge. She's absolutely not going to think about the fact that she can feel parts of his body that she never thought she would while they're like this.
She leans in, the lustrous tendrils of her red hair tumbling about them both as she moves to kiss first his mouth, quickly, briefly, before moving to his neck. Mitsuru kisses him there, letting him feel the graze of her teeth and tongue the same way he had been doing to her. Her voice is a little... huskier than usual, a little softer, as she murmurs in response against his neck. ]
You're correct, I'm not complaining about it. But you're free to anytime, Akihiko...
[ She follows it up with another soft yet teasing bite. She wonders briefly what it would be like to mark his skin again, whether he would like that... ]
no subject
And how she keeps teasing at his neck. NOW he's starting to understand what she means about not fighting fair. His breathing is going a little more heavy, and there's another odd noise escaping his lips as she teases at his neck.]
"Only thing I mind is that you're not..."
[How is he supposed to put this, exactly? That she's not as aggressive as she could be?
And he's weirdly excited by that thought? It's certainly pushing an electric feeling down his back and into his stomach, before settling deeper.]
"Th...That is. You could be a lot more forceful, if you wanted. I wouldn't complain."
[He finds himself reaching with one of his hands and gently weaving his fingers into Mitsuru's hair. Not pulling on it of course... Just appreciating it, and how the strands shift between his fingers. Certainly not something he's been able to savor much, until now.]
no subject
What he's just trying to tell her that he's not liking this in the most polite way possible?
But then he finishes that sentence and a dark blush begins to spread across her face. There is something else too, a none too small thrill at the thought... ]
...I see.
[ She finds herself shuddering pleasantly as Akihiko weaves his fingers through her hair. She considers his neck where she was teasing it, finally spurred on enough to bite him there, teeth grazing him hard enough to leave a mark as she sucks gently on his bare skin. She can't rein in the strange feeling of satisfaction at her handiwork, the way she's marked him. She murmurs against his neck. ]
Like this, Akihiko?
no subject
"Y-yeah... A lot like that!"
[Not exactly dignified, how he wheezes and gasps that out. His hands go up to clutch at the back of Mitsuru's head and hold onto it all through the biting.]
"Guess I... Like it when you're a little rough. Feels a little like a test for me."
[...And that's partially true, but not 100% accurate. Akihiko lets his breath out slow, and lets himself collapse into the bedsheets.]
"...And I also guess that I just like feeling how strong you are. Reminds me that you're-
...Well. You know."
[SAY IT, his thoughts shout at him. No running away from this or shying away from another challenge.]
"That you're... kindabeautifullikethat."
no subject
[ She finds herself enjoying the way he gives into her, the way he collapses to the sheets underneath them both. It spurs her on, her lips trailing lower until she's at the collar of whatever tshirt he had decided to wear to bed yesterday night, her mouth and teeth finding his collarbone where she leaves yet another mark on his skin,
Mitsuru might be slowly but steadily getting used to the pair of them becoming increasingly physically intimate, but it's quite another thing to hear Akihiko call her beautiful. He'd always been quick to compliment her skill in battle- "amazing as always"- but this... this hits different.
New colour rises to her cheeks as she pauses to look him in the eye. ]
Now you're just trying to distract me.
[ A dirty tactic ]